EFFECT OF PURIFIED IGGS FROM HIV-1-INFECTED AND NON INFECTED INDIVIDUALS ON IMMUNE ACTIVATION

The purification and analysis of IgGs from sera of HIV-1-infected and non infected individuals are reported. The effect of antibodies purifi ed from sera of infected individuals on antigen-induced T cell prolife ration was investigated in relation to their possible involvement in a n autoimmune reaction in AIDS, in view of the previously unravelled st riking peptide similarities between HIV-1 gp120 and the immunoregulato ry CD4 and Fas molecules. However, our data do not allow definite conc lusions to be drawn. The necessity of purifying antibodies against spe cific peptides to show their direct effect on T-cell activation is fur ther stressed.